Hard talk

Hardtalk

Words more like axes than arrows

Words more like hammers than water

Words that give a wash instead of a bath

That break the spirit and crush the bone

Or get it roaring like a wounded bear.

Talks that are spoken without consideration

Hurting with so much desperation

Could never bring the peace in any situation

Unfit words are like thorn in the mouth

Bruising tongue teeth and all

Wither they be straight from the heart

Or coined from nowhere at all

Some motives of pain and sorrows

Targeted at others just like arrows

Others without motive but really bring in the terrors

The peace of our minds should aim

Aim at that piece if a smile we place

Our words seasoned with peace and ease

Garnished with grace and laughter

Should daily be our poise and character

                                                                        PIQUANT

Credits:  Peace Kayode-Martins

Some days

I was running late for the interview. The traffic this morning was crazy. It was as though all the drivers were out to get me.

The Interview was to hold in the City Center and I lived in the outskirts of town. I applied for the position of Public Relations Officer of the Organization. I left my home bright and early and ventured into the road.

I needed that job. My wife just put to bed, twins. We were not expecting twins at all, the scan showed only one foetus. We had four children to cater for and my wife was not working. I lost my job two weeks earlier, I have not even told her.

As I drove desperately trying to beat the unbelievable traffic of Maraba, Nyanya road, it was as though all the fates were against me. There were a number of accidents and broken down vehicles on the road. It was a total lock down as it always is when it rains.

Thankfully, my car behaved really well. I got to town with a few minutes to spare then out of the blues I heard a bang. I parked in the middle of the road, (the traffic in the City is much less than it is in the outskirts) and flew out of the car. It was a slight brush and I had no idea who it was that was at fault but I decided not to go gown without a fight. I screamed on top of my lungs and raved. I poured out all my anger and frustration and a few curses. I was that pissed off.

The passengers of the other car were trying to play hardball at first but they calmed down and begged for mercy at the sight of my terrible anger. I mellowed down, and warned them. We both left the scene after a little traffic build up was caused.

The rest of the journey was not uneventful. A taxi driver ran into the road and almost caused me to veer off the overhead bridge. He didn’t even stop. He paused to swear at me and curse the living daylights out of me.

I got to the interview venue a good ten minutes late but to my greatest joy, the interview had not started. I took some minutes to calm my blood pressure and compose myself. I took a number and waited.

I talked with some of the candidates. I was by far the choice candidate. I was suave and had the requisite experience. I was confident. The self-confidence helped calm my raging nerves.

I was called in and put on my best face. I walked in, confident. Till I saw the panelists.

Two of the four people were the people on whom I brought down the skies. The passengers of the car that brushed me or I brushed.

I sat down on the small chair they put there for the interviewees. The weight on my head was akin to the entire world on my shoulders.

The lady smiled sweetly at me and said.

“Good morning, tell us a little about yourself and why you feel you are the best candidate for this job.”

All traces of moisture disappeared from my mouth. I opened my mouth but no words came out. I heard a voice I recognized sound across the room. It was my voice.

            “I have had a very bad day today.”

I think that is all I said during the interview, I cannot remember. I  do not expect any call from them, I know it is blown…

Credits:  Ojonugwa Sapphire Abu

Photo:     desertusa.com

Awkward relatives

We used to call him Uncle AD. I believe he has lost his right to that title so I now just call him AD. He is one of those kinds of Nigerian Uncles whose relationship no one can actually describe. The family tree just can never branch that far.

He used to come to our house when our parents were still alive. I know of many situations that my dad put off getting us something to make sure AD had whatever it was he wanted. My dad was a selfless and generous guy and it’s not because he is my dad, everyone says so.

No, this is not a sad story.  It’s not a narrative of how much we suffered when our parents died. Yes we did face challenges when our folks died but we fared well. As a matter of fact we fared better than most.

Father was an ace business man. In the early 90’s when the Naira had good value, he was one of those upper middle class dudes that were always liquid. He took us along on business appointments. As if he knew he was going to depart early.

Mom died a good 5 years before he did. It was just we and him in his last days, of course with the likes of Uncle AD who were always around with tales of one challenge or the other and one request for finances or the other. Like I said, he was a generous fellow.

Anyways, father fell terribly ill and we spent a lot of money to ensure his recovery. All his numerous friends came over, bringing whatever aid they could afford. He struggled to live, we gave him the best care and support we could but he died.

We performed all the rites and ceremonies of the funeral and burial and moved on as much as we could without either parent. It wasn’t an easy life but we survived. My elder brother just finished service and I was writing my final examinations. I did well and was posted faraway for youth service. I redeployed.

We did what was left of raising our younger ones. They handled the reality very well. Daddy’s friends stood by us as much as they could and God was on our side. The lines fell pretty well for us.

We traveled home to our father’s house for a family member’s wedding when I saw some school aged girls. I assumed that they came with one of my cousins. Some months later, we traveled for a private family event in the village and lo, the same school girls.

I called Kobo the caretaker of the property and accused him of shady acts. I asked who they were and got the shock of my life. They were AD’s children. He brought them one evening and introduced himself as Father’s cousin! The first thing I said was “Did AD even hear that Father died?” That was over 3 years ago.

I was really shocked. AD showed up last before the old man fell ill. He lived in the same town as us then and never even showed up to even pretend to care. He never even as much as called to find out how we were doing after the old man passed on. Funny that his kids are in higher Institution in the same town and he remembers that his distant relative has a house and keeping his kids there would cut the accommodation costs for his children and so he sneaks them in and disappears.

I blurted it out to my wife that day (the worst mistake ever). My wife is normally very mature and well behaved. She has been behaving like a wounded lion since. She even called her family to inform them of a distant relative trying to take over her husband’s father’s house!

Her family is literally preparing for war. I had to diffuse all the tension.

I can’t wait for the academic session to be over so these girls can return to their father and my ears can rest from proverbs about how selfish and shameless are. Yes, my wife is wise beyond her years, but she is so dramatic.

I cannot imagine how selfish and shameless AD has proven to be. I know this is not a sensational story but I had to share it. Father’s memorial is 17 years in two weeks and AD has not even bothered to call to find out how those he left behind have fared but is still looking for cheap cuts…

All that was required from AD was just a call, a show of affection, some sort of acknowledgement, some post humus respect for a man who sacrificed so much to make him happy and comfortable but even that I have realized is too much to ask from such a selfish mind. Old habits really die hard.

Groom sues new wife for fraud after seeing her without makeup for the first time

Imagine waking up during your honeymoon to find the woman above instead of the one below, whom you dated and married because of her ravishing beauty, what would be your reaction? Well, this young man had that experience and this is how he reacted.

...
A man who saw his new wife for the first time without make up is reportedly SUING her for trauma, after being shocked at her appearance.

The unnamed couple had just got married in Algeria and after spending the night together, the husband woke up to find his wife bare faced.

But rather than admire her natural beauty, instead the man REFUSED to believe the woman was his wife, believing her to be a thief.

Finally realising that this was in fact the woman he loved, the man is now allegedly suing her for fraud and “psychological suffering”.

A source told Emirates 247: “He said he was deceived by her as she used to fill up her face with make up before their marriage.

“He said she looked very beautiful and attractive before marriage, but when he woke up in the morning and found that she had washed the make-up off her face, he was frightened as he thought she was a thief.”

The price of the husband’s “suffering” is £13,000.


Tony Wells, Yahoo News
picture; model, bossip.com

My wife is missing

I fell in love with Dija because of her smile. Hers was a deep and sincere smile, no bars held. Her smile could melt the coldest of hearts. It did mine.

She was the real definition of beauty, beauty on the inside. She was chubby and natural. I loved her for it. I loved how she could get real goofy around me. We got married real fast and she gave me two adorable kids, a boy, and a girl. I was beside myself with joy.

Then she decided to get back to work. I supported her all the way. She got a nice job with good pay and life became much better for us as a family, or so I thought till the changes, or is it transformation began.

She stopped eating. She said she was dieting. She started wearing these funny girdles, she called them waist trainers. Her lingo changed. Food became calories, flesh became fat and everything became crazy.

Dija became someone else. She became more suited to a magazine cover than beside me as her life partner. She became obsessed with ‘lifestyle’ and ‘make up’ and everything except the important things.

Dija has lost her smile. I asked her about it and she says that she has to smile less dramatically so she does not develop laugh lines and wrinkles! Where in God’s name do they teach women these things?

I look at my Dija and I do not recognize her anymore. She has an unusual surge of self-confidence that scares me. She has been promoted twice in the past year in her office. She even earns more than me now.

I feel very uncomfortable with this whole scenario. All the self enhancement jargon has turned my marriage into something else. I am being objective here right?

Photo credits; uptownmagazine.com

 

I met God

I met God.

I had always hoped I would

I had so many questions, so many accusations

So many times I wanted stuff, needed even

I put my hope on the line, did everything right

Fulfilled all my vows even when things were tight

One time I needed a promotion

I’d worked hard, worked day, worked night

Advancement was right there, just in sight.

Alas, some other person got the commendation.

I needed a child, God loves children

One would think that he would give me one

A child would get nothing but love from this heart

But here I am, with so much love, alone

I called Him out, He permitted me

I accused Him of unfairness, of abandonment

I knew I had a case against Him and His ways

I dared to ask Him why

You wanted so many things, He said

But wants are just wants

You never doubted my power I give you that

But you never asked

Ask and you will receive

Ask and I’ll give the nations to you

Ask in faith, not wavering

Ask, receive that your joy may be complete

-nugwa sapphire abu